54 T O R R E Y A 



should have continued beyond that first raid had it not been for the sound 

 advice contained in Mr. Seton's account of his experiences with weather, mos- 

 quitoes, and transportation problems. We heartily recommend it to anyone who 

 contemplates venturing into the Mackenzie basin wilderness in summer. In 

 fact, it might almost be considered required reading. 



Seton was accompanied, in 1907, by Mr. E. A. Preble of the U. S. Biolog- 

 ical Survey. Preble had already traveled extensively in the Mackenzie coun- 

 try, having made long collecting journeys in 1901 and again in 1903-04. His 

 "Biological Investigation of the Athabaska-Mackenzie Region,'' published in 

 1908 as Xo. 27 in the North American Fauna Series remains to this day an 

 indispensable guide for anyone undertaking biological work in that region. 



"The Arctic Prairies" can be divided roughly into three parts. First is a 

 description of preparations for the trip, and of the trip itself as far north as 

 McMurray on the lower Athabaska River at the mouth of the Clearwater. 

 Modern travelers will find but little in. this part that applies directly to what 

 they themselves will see, for Seton followed the old route by way of Athabaska 

 Landing. A railway now carries traffic from Edmonton to Waterways on the 

 Clearwater River, which is the present head of navigation on the Mackenzie 

 system. The old route was a venturesome one, for it necessitated passing a 

 series of rapids in the Athabaska between Athabaska Landing and the mouth 

 of the Clearwater. 



The second part of the story is an account of the canoe and boat journey 

 down the Athabaska and Slave Rivers to Fort Smith ; and it also tells of 

 the author's adventures in his hunt for woodland bison in the country west of 

 the Slave River. This country is now a part of the Wood Buffalo Park, a vast 

 game preserve set up for the perpetuation of the dwindling native herds of 

 bison. Seton's description of the country and his discussion of the bison are of 

 great significance ; for they were done at a critical time in the history of the 

 wild herds, when the latter had about reached their lowest ebb. Thanks to 

 modern protection they have now increased greatly. 



It is in the second part of the book that the chapter on mosquitoes and flies 

 appears (Chap. IX). This chapter is a gem, that should be read by any pro- 

 spective northern traveler whether or not he reads any other part of the book. 

 It is probably the best description that has ever been written of the unmitigated 

 summer nightmare of mosquitoes and flies. Its only competitor, in my opinion, 

 is an account put down by the ill-fated Hood, on the occasion of the first 

 Franklin Expedition ; but this is deeply buried in the narrative of that journey, 

 and inaccessible to most readers. It is impossible to emphasize too strongly the 

 need for adequate preparation, on the part of travelers, against the mosquito 

 pest. This is especially true for anyone engaged in botanical work that must 

 be done in summer. It is not overstating the case to say that the efficiency of 

 an expensive and otherwise carefully planned expedition can be cut to a half 



